The Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has called on the Government to bail out Times Printpak Zambia Limited and save the nearly 170 unionised workers from the current hardships.
Currently, the ZUJ draws its membership from the Zambia Daily Mail, the Zambia Printing Company and the Times Printpak Zambia Limited, the publisher of Times of Zambia and the Sunday Times of Zambia newspapers.
And the Union has challenged the board of directors at the Zambia Daily Mail to expedite the recruitment of the Managing Director at the public media house.
ZUJ President James Muyanwa said the unionised employees at Times Printpak, the publisher of Times of Zambia and Sunday Times of Zambia newspapers, have suffered long enough and deserve a bail-out package.
“Our members at Times Printpak Zambia Limited, have suffered for a long time now. The workers have been getting their salaries late for about four years now. For instance, currently they are in two-month salary arrears, and have literally been surviving by the grace of God,” he said.
Mr Muyanwa suggested that through its subvention, the government should take up the repayment of the which the company contracted for the purchase of a printing machine and the payment of retirees’ terminal benefits which are taking up most of the monthly revenue for the company.
“From our analysis, the situation has been compounded by the huge outstanding terminal benefits for former employees, some of who left as far back as 2010 as well as the loan which was contracted from a local commercial bank for the purchase of a printing machine.
“The firm is currently paying more than K300,000 per month to the commercial bank while at the same time parting away with huge sums of money for the retirees most of who have sought court orders on the matter.”
He said these and many other liabilities including mismanagement by some past managers have helped to impoverish the journalists and other employees at the once-prestigious firm.
“Given this situation, we feel the Government should move from mere words to action on the matter to salvage the company from total collapse and also address the plight of our members.
We feel that the company, as a public institution, deserves the same treatment as Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) and Zambia Railway Limited (ZRL) have received. It requires a bail-out package in line with what was given to NCZ and ZRL. We realize that even if it is a limited company Times needs subvention from the sole shareholder – the government.”
On the issue of Zambia Daily Mail, Mr Muyanwa challenged the board to expeditiously recruit the new chief executive officer saying the current situation has been retrogressive.
Daily Mail has operated without Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for more than a month now following the termination of the contract for the immediate past position holder, Mr Anthony Mukwita.
“Notwithstanding the fact that there has been an acting managing director, we feel the absence of the substantive CEO has impacted negatively on the operations of this important organisation. There are some decisions which an acting CEO cannot make because of their sensitivity long-lasting implications, resulting in procrastination by the ‘headless’ management.”
Mr Muyanwa cited this year’s Collective Bargaining process between the Management at the institution and ZUJ as one such exercise which suffered that fate.
“We, therefore, call on the Board at Zambia Daily Mail to expedite the recruitment of the new CEO to ensure progress. The members’ patience is waning out.
“We equally take advantage of this opportunity to remind the Board and other relevant entities that newspaper publication remains Zambia Daily Mail’s core business and, therefore, members expect the institution to be headed by a professional journalist.”
Mr Muyanwa further called on the board to revisit the abolition of the position of Deputy Managing Director saying that the Union felt that the move to scrap off that important position was in bad faith and lacked any justification whatsoever.
“We are in receipt of a petition from three branch executive committees of our Union in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe on the matter. Our Chapel leaders are demanding the restoration of the position of Deputy Managing Director.
He said that according to the members the current position of Director – Editorial is illegal because it did not exist anywhere in the establishment.
The position was scrapped off when the last substantive holder, Mr Mukwita was promoted to the position of managing director.
I’m sure the Govt can’t do much else but keep it afloat as it is another outlet for Govt lies and propaganda. In “normal” countries, news outlets that can’t maintain a level of objectivity and ethical standards would not even have the audacity to ask for public funds to bail them out. But then again, we are talking about Zambia where despite resolutely denying any interference in media houses, the Govt maintains a strong hand in deciding who runs the “free” print media at daily mail and times of zambia.
Wrong thinking ba ZUJ. Government bail outs are a Second Republic mentality and for people like you who are in a profession that deals with freedom of expression as exemplified in the Fourth Estate it is disappointing to hear you demanding for more control from the executive wing. Yes once the govt bails you out you are under its control. Firstly ask yourselves why the Times finds itself in this position. Its because of govt interference. ZUJ should therefore be advocating for government to hand or sell this entity to the people you represent, namely the workers. You workers can run the Times of Zambia (and the Daily Mail) yourselves and INDEPENDENTLY. You have the professional expertise at your disposal. You may just need the entrepreneurship spirit or just hire a business manager.
In 2011 Guy Scott stood and told Parliament that Daily Mail and Times of Zambia would be privatised and sold off by the PF Government. If that had happened we would not be here now.
More PF BUFI!
Ifyabupuba fye